First, the White House got some momentum and needs to get at least the circuit court names released asap, especially those for the D.C. Circuit, which must become the priority for the Judiciary Committee staff.

Second, anything less than an up or down vote on all judicial nominees other than those named by the Gang of 14 a year ago deeply damage McCain’s campaign, as it will underscore that he got hornswaggled again by Dems, just as with McCain-Feingold and McCain-Kennedy. Specifically, there are no “extraordinary circumstances” surrounding nominees Boyle or Haynes. If either lacks 51 votes, so be it.

But the failure of the Gang of 14 to deliver on its pledge is a failure of McCain to deliver on his promise.